History Main / SicklyProdigy

* ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'' series has Minoru, who was born out of incest for the purpose of SuperpowerfulGenetics. His magic is actually too strong to be contained by his body: he can cast very powerful spells, but even so he spends a third of his life bedridden, and [[GlassCannon has no physical ability to dodge or fight off a non-magical opponent]]. He is extremely bitter about this, [[spoiler:and ditches his "family" at the first opportunity he gets]].

* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': Koushaku Chouno was a TeenGenius who excelled at studying until his IncurableCoughOfDeath resulted in him twice being held back a year at school and disinherited by his family. In an effort to cure himself, Chouno took up [[AlchemyIsMagic alchemy]] and eventually became the superpowered [[OurHomunculiAreDifferent homunculus]] known as Papillon with a near-immortal body but, as the transformation wasn't complete, he was still physically frail and coughing.

* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': Koushaku Chouno was a TeenGenius who excelled at studying until his IncurableCoughOfDeath resulted in him twice being held back a year at school and disinherited by his familiy. In an effort to cure himself, Chouno took up [[AlchemyIsMagic alchemy]] and eventually became the superpowered [[OurHomunculiAreDifferent homunculus]] known as Papillon with a near-immortal body but, as the transformation wasn't complete, he was still physically frail and coughing.

* Papillion from ''Manga/BusoRenkin'', an alchemist who successfully creates several homonculi before upgrading himself in hopes of curing his IncurableCoughOfDeath and giving him superpowers. The getting superpowers part worked, but he was still physically frail and coughing.

* [[spoiler: Alfia]] from ''VideoGame/Memoria Freese'' is a talented Mage from the legendary [[spoiler: Hera familia]], she is capable of short, one word chants and wears a POWERLIMITER [[spoiler: that doubles as a AntiMagic barrier]]. One of the highest level characters revealed so far, her stamina is limited by her IncurableCoughofDeath.

This Character is extremely skilled in a fight, often applying brains over brawn in order to win with little effort. However, when pushed too hard he may collapse in a coughing fit, or pass out post-battle. He may find it hard to train, as he has to take it easy, but his talent allows him to keep up with other characters.

* Papillion from ''Manga/BusouRenkin'', an alchemist who successfully creates several homonculi before upgrading himself in hopes of curing his IncurableCoughOfDeath and giving him superpowers. The getting superpowers part worked, but he was still physically frail and coughing.

* Kurogane Hiroto in ''Kurogane'' (not the one on this wiki). Because of his weak body Hiroto was always the worst at sports. But when he takes up kendo his excellent eyesight allows him to avoid being hit by his opponents. At one point he faints because he's unused to the weight on the kendo armor. Waiting to see if he can strengthen his body or not.
* Kimimaro from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''. He's dying from an incurable disease which should have left him unable to move let alone fight, yet has no problem taking on a Kyuubi-empowered Naruto, Lee, and Gaara. The only reason he fails to deliver a death blow to the latter two is that his body simply gave out mid-strike.
** Also applies to Itachi, who contracted the IncurableCoughOfDeath at some point after leaving Konoha. He sought medical treatment, so that he'd meet up with Sasuke again, in hopes that the latter would kill him in battle. [[spoiler: While Itachi ''did'' die in a battle with Sasuke, it was from overexertion, not the direct result of anything Sasuke did.]]

* [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric of Melnibone]] is physically frail and weak, requiring him to depend on either herbal medicine or his LifeEnergy draining sword Stormbringer for the strength necessary to fight. However, when he has the strength he's an excellent fighter.
* Jem from The Infernal Devices series. He's addicted to a drug that kills him slowly but the withdrawal will kill him if he doesn't take it. So he takes as little as possible, but as the drug also gives him energy this causes him to appear very frail. Yet he is more than capable of fending for himself against the demons he frequently encounters.
* The Literature/{{Dragonlance}} series of books has Raistlin, at least when he's human in the earlier books. Ridiculously powerful mage from a very early age, but also sickly and prone to coughing up blood.

* Subverted in ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'', while Shi Woon originally had such bad ki circulation that he couldn't exercise without fainting the AppliedPhlebotinum fixed his health issues.

* Teclis in TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} is one of the greatest mages on the planet, but is extremely [[SquishyWizard squishy]], requiring potions just to stay alive.

What you get when you combine IllGirl[=/=]LittlestCancerPatient with HandicappedBadass and TheGift.

This character might depend on WaifFu and is likely to be a FragileSpeedster. Expect him to be WeakButSkilled.

A subtrope of HandicappedBadass. If the character is old, then he is likely to also be a BadassGrandpa. May or may not be a TeenGenius or a ChildProdigy.

* Kimimaru from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''. He's dying from an incurable disease which should have left him unable to move let alone fight, yet has no problem taking on a Kyuubi-empowered Naruto, Lee, and Gaara. The only reason he fails to deliver a death blow to the latter two is that his body simply gave out mid-strike.

! Examples

* Papillion from ''manga/BusouRenkin'', an alchemist who successfully creates several homonculi before upgrading himself in hopes of curing his IncurableCoughOfDeath and giving him superpowers. The getting superpowers part worked, but he was still physically frail and coughing.

* The {{Dragonlance}} series of books has Raistlin, at least when he's human in the earlier books. Ridiculously powerful mage from a very early age, but also sickly and prone to coughing up blood.

* ElricOfMelnibone is physically frail and weak, requiring him to depend on either herbal medicine or his LifeEnergy draining sword Stormbringer for the strength necessary to fight. However, when he has the strength he's an excellent fighter.

This Character is extremely skilled in a fight. Often applying brains over brawn in order to win with little effort. However, when pushed too hard he may collapse in a coughing fit, or pass out post battle. He may find it hard to train, as he has to take it easy, but his talent allows him to keep up with other characters.

This may be caused by a weak immune system and frequent sicknesses that sap his strength, a single disease such as consumption or epilepsy, or might just be born with a weak body (such as a malformed heart).

This character might depend on WaifFu and is likely to be a FragileSpeedster. Expect to him to be WeakButSkilled.

A subtrope of HandicappedBadass, if the character is old then he is likely to also be a BadassGrandpa. May or may not be a TeenGenius or a ChildProdigy.

What you get when you combine IllGirl / LittlestCancerPatient with HandicappedBadass and TheGift.

* Captain Ukitake from Manga/{{Bleach}}. Even though he's one of the most powerful Soul Reapers, his illness seems to prevent him from fighting for very long, and he appears to lapse into coughing fits at inopportune moments.
* Kurogane Hiroto in Kurogane (not the one on the this wiki). Because of his weak body Hiroto was always the worst at sports. But when he takes up kendo his excellent eyesight allows him to avoid being hit by his opponents. At one point he faints because he's unused to the weight on the kendo armor. Waiting to see if he can strengthen his body or not.
* Kimimaru from Manga/{{Naruto}}. He's dying from an incurable disease which should have left him unable to move let alone fight, yet has no problem taking on a Kyuubi-empowered Naruto, Lee, and Gaara. The only reason he fails to deliver a death blow to the latter two is that his body simply gave out mid-strike.
* Kashitarou in {{Gamaran}}. So weak he can't swing a full katana, he uses a wakazashi instead and focuses on extreme control of his movements, in particular eliminating wasted movements.
* Papillion from ''BusoRenkin'', an alchemist who successfully creates several homonculi before upgrading himself in hopes of curing his IncurableCoughOfDeath and giving him superpowers. The getting superpowers part worked, but he was still physically frail and coughing.

* Kimimaru from Manga/{{Naruto}}. He's dying from an incurable disease but has no problems wiping the floor with the protagonist and his friends. The only reason he didn't kill off the protagonist was because the strain from taking it UpToEleven caused his disease to kill him as he was delivering the deathblow.

* Izumi from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist,'' despite her insistence to the contrary, is a powerful alchemist and all-around badass who famously survived for a month in the frozen wastes of Briggs by [[RefugeInAudacity raiding the military outpost there for supplies]]. However, she lost several of her internal organs to the Portal of Truth when she attempted human transmutation in order to resurrect her baby; she's still no less badass than before, but tends to break down coughing up blood if she exerts herself for too long.

--> "He's one step away from his deathbed but that doesn't mean he won't kick your ass" - Anonymous

* Izumi from ''FullmetalAlchemist,'' despite her insistence to the contrary, is a powerful alchemist and all-around badass who famously survived for a month in the frozen wastes of Briggs by [[RefugeInAudacity raiding the military outpost there for supplies.]] However, she lost several of her internal organs to the Portal of Truth when she attempted human transmutation in order to resurrect her baby; she's still no less badass than before, but tends to break down coughing up blood if she exerts herself for too long.

A subtrope of HandicappedBadass, if the character is old then he is likely to also be a BadassGrandpa.

* Subverted in TheBreaker, While Shi Woon originally had such bad ki circulation that he couldn't exercise without fainting the AppliedPhlebotinum fixed his health issues.

What you get when you combine IllGirl / LittlestCancerPatient with HandicappedBadass and {{The Gift}}.

A subtrope of {{Handicapped Badass}}, if the character is old then he is likely to also be a {{Badass Grandpa}}.

[[AC:{{Anime and Manga}}]]
* Captain Ukitake from {{Bleach}}. Even though he's one of the most powerful Soul Reapers, his illness seems to prevent him from fighting for very long, and he appears to lapse into coughing fits at inopportune moments.
* Subverted in {{The Breaker}}, While Shi Woon originally had such bad ki circulation that he couldn't exercise without fainting the {{Applied Phlebotinum}} fixed his health issues.

* Kimimaru from {{Naruto}}. He's dying from an incurable disease but has no problems wiping the floor with the protagonist and his friends. The only reason he didn't kill off the protagonist was because the strain from taking it UpToEleven caused his disease to kill him as he was delivering the deathblow.

* {{Elric Of Melnibone}} is physically frail and weak, requiring him to depend on either herbal medicine or his LifeEnergy draining sword Stormbringer for the strength necessary to fight. However, when he has the strength he's an excellent fighter.

[[AC:{{Tabletop Games}}]]
* Teclis in {{Warhammer}} is one of the greatest mages on the planet, but is extremely [[SquishyWizard squishy]], requiring potions just to stay alive.